Dell Home Systems XPS M2010
OH MY GOD! I'm in love. Never mind that the thing costs 9 grand (totally tricked out, that is...) and weighs over 20Lbs! DualCor, 20" monitor, removable bluetooth keyboard for cryin' out loud! Its my ultimate laptop. Will somebody buy me one? Please? Please? I'll be your friend...
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Monday, August 21, 2006
Joe Haldeman Diary, April-May 2003
I just found the funniest commentary on the Iraq war. It was written and posted in April of 2003, by Joe Haldeman, Hugo and Nebula award-winning science fiction author. I'll post the text, and then a link to the actual site, so you can see the rest of it:
I just got this delicious observation from Steven Utley, by way of Michael Bishop and Greg Frost:
"This is the Vietnam II Preflight Check.
1. Cabal of oldsters who won't listen to outside advice? Check.
2. No understanding of ethnicities of the many locals? Check.
3. National boundaries drawn in Europe, not by the locals? Check.
4. Unshakable faith in our superior technology? Check.
5. France secretly hoping we fall on our asses? Check.
6. Russia secretly hoping we fall on our asses? Check.
7. China secretly hoping we fall on our asses? Check.
8. SecDef pushing a conflict the JCS never wanted? Check.
9. Fear we'll look bad if we back down now? Check.
10. Corrupt Texan in the White House? Check.
11. Land war in Asia? Check.
12. Rightists unhappy with outcome of previous war? Check.
13. Enemy easily moves in/out of neighboring countries? Check.
14. Soldiers about to be dosed with our own chemicals? Check.
15. Friendly fire problem ignored instead of solved? Check.
16. Anti-Americanism up sharply in Europe? Check.
17. B-52 bombers? Check.
18. Helicopters that clog up on the local dust? Check.
19. Infighting among the branches of the military? Check.
20. Locals that cheer us by day, hate us by night? Check.
21. Local experts ignored? Check.
22. Local politicians ignored? Check.
23. Local conflicts since before the USA has been a country? Check.
24. Against advice, Prez won't raise taxes to pay for war? Check.
25. Blue water navy ships operating in brown water? Check.
26. Use of nukes hinted at if things don't go our way? Check.
27. Unpopular war? Check.
Vietnam II, you are cleared to taxi."
Actually, I think it would work better with just the first ten, or the strongest ten. Once you start committing analogy, though, I guess it's hard to stop.
Joe
Joe Haldeman Diary, April-May 2003
I just got this delicious observation from Steven Utley, by way of Michael Bishop and Greg Frost:
"This is the Vietnam II Preflight Check.
1. Cabal of oldsters who won't listen to outside advice? Check.
2. No understanding of ethnicities of the many locals? Check.
3. National boundaries drawn in Europe, not by the locals? Check.
4. Unshakable faith in our superior technology? Check.
5. France secretly hoping we fall on our asses? Check.
6. Russia secretly hoping we fall on our asses? Check.
7. China secretly hoping we fall on our asses? Check.
8. SecDef pushing a conflict the JCS never wanted? Check.
9. Fear we'll look bad if we back down now? Check.
10. Corrupt Texan in the White House? Check.
11. Land war in Asia? Check.
12. Rightists unhappy with outcome of previous war? Check.
13. Enemy easily moves in/out of neighboring countries? Check.
14. Soldiers about to be dosed with our own chemicals? Check.
15. Friendly fire problem ignored instead of solved? Check.
16. Anti-Americanism up sharply in Europe? Check.
17. B-52 bombers? Check.
18. Helicopters that clog up on the local dust? Check.
19. Infighting among the branches of the military? Check.
20. Locals that cheer us by day, hate us by night? Check.
21. Local experts ignored? Check.
22. Local politicians ignored? Check.
23. Local conflicts since before the USA has been a country? Check.
24. Against advice, Prez won't raise taxes to pay for war? Check.
25. Blue water navy ships operating in brown water? Check.
26. Use of nukes hinted at if things don't go our way? Check.
27. Unpopular war? Check.
Vietnam II, you are cleared to taxi."
Actually, I think it would work better with just the first ten, or the strongest ten. Once you start committing analogy, though, I guess it's hard to stop.
Joe
Joe Haldeman Diary, April-May 2003
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